About Bristol Funeral Directors

Bristol Funeral Directors is a group of independent local family operated funeral businesses, owned by the family of E.C. Alderwick & Son Limited which have been serving the Bristol Community for over a hundred years.

Here is a brief background of each business and how they became part of what is now the largest independent family funeral directors operating in Bristol and the South West of England.

E.C. Alderwick & Son Ltd.

Originally called Boulton Funeral Directors and founded by Samuel Boulton, the business then became Griffin and Sons in the 1870's. It was then taken over by Ewart Cobden Alderwick in 1945 and forms the family side of the business. Ewart became a popular figure around Kingswood and the surrounding areas, playing football at a high level for Cadbury Heath. Ewart's only son Roy followed his father into the business, also becoming very well known in his home town, being interested in local Government in the 1960's and being elected to stand on the local council for six years, two of which were as Chairman. The current two principle directors Mr Philip Alderwick and Mr Derek Gunningham being the son and son-in-law of Roy Alderwick, now head the companies. The fourth generation has already established themselves within the business, with Philip's three children and Derek's two taking active roles in the day to day running.

Thomas Davis.

Established in 1840, it was first named as Bishop's Funeral Directors, who not only ran a funeral business but also a carriage and fly hire service. The Bishop family had adopted a child by the name of Thomas Davis. He was apprenticed and he took over the business in 1870. The firm's ledgers, which date back to 1846, show that the firm provided all the pomp of a Victorian funeral, with horses and mutes, and black ostrich feathers, right up to 1946, when they held the last old style horse-drawn funeral in the city. However it has now become more and more popular for Thomas Davis to re-introduce this style of funeral. Thomas Davis passed the business to his only son George Davis, who in turn passed the business to his two sons Brian and Gordon. They ran the business until they both died and then the opportunity arose for E.C. Alderwick & Son to purchase the company and retain family ownership.

Thomas Davis Ltd's first funeral car. A 1927 sleeve-valve Daimler Laundalette, bought second-hand from the Earl of Ducie for £500. Pictured outside Ashton Court.

George Haskins & Son.

Established in the late 1890's and were originally coal merchants supplying fuel to many areas east of Bristol. In the 1900's the business ventured into funeral directing and was continued to be ran as such by the Haskins family until the early 1980's. The business was then taken over by E.C. Alderwick & Son Ltd.

Cotton & Sons.

Established in 1855, the oldest surviving funeral home in Bristol. Originally founded by Alonzo Cotton, a tinsmith, in West Street, Old Market. Became a well known Bristolian when in 1877, his wife fell down a flight of stairs, Alonzo rushed to her assistance and using his horse and funeral cart to take her to the B.R.I. and in doing so introduced the idea of starting a branch of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade in the city. He eventually became their Chief Superintendent and was awarded the MBE for his work. The business was continually ran by three generations of the Cottons family, not only as funeral directors but also operating a coffin factory, supplying many of the funeral directors with coffins and accessories in the south west of England and south Wales. The opportunity arose for E.C. Alderwick & Son to purchase the business in 2002 and retain family ownership. The business currently caters for the majority of ethnic funerals, within the city of Bristol.

Across the city of Bristol we currently have seven funeral homes handling up to 1500 funerals per annum, with the capacity to accommodate 2000 plus.

The company employ 40 members of staff, 11 of which are family.

The company realises the importance of continuing education within the funeral sector, and all staff are encouraged to obtain the qualifications available to them.